Am J Psychiatry 1979; 136:1518-1524
Copyright © 1979 by American Psychiatric Association
Psychosocial concomitants of biological maturation in preadolescence
RA Frank and DJ Cohen
The authors studied 8 sets of healthy twins, ranging in physical maturity
from prepubertal to late pubertal, and their parents to assess
psychological changes in early adolescence. Interview and questionnaire
data suggested that self-doubt, avoidance of responsiblity, resentment of
parents, and anxiety about social relationships peaked in early puberty;
emotional upset peaked in early puberty to mid-puberty. The results support
a hypothesis of phase-specific psychosocial regression correlated with the
biological onset of puberty. Children in all pubertal stages were shifting
their interests away from parents and toward peers.
